Are you getting confused with the different terminologies your doctor uses regarding your surgery? Back surgery is of various types. In this post, we will discuss the kinds of Dayton back surgery.
Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty
Your backbone has small bones called vertebrae stacked on one another. In vertebroplasty, your surgeon will inject a cement-like substance into the fractured bone. But in kyphoplasty, your doctor will first inflate a balloon to expand the vertebrae and then fill it with cement.
Spinal laminectomy/spinal decompression
If there is an overgrowth of the content within the spinal canal, it builds pressure within the channel. The surgeon will remove the back part of the vertebrae called the lamina to release the tension on the canal and nerve. Hence the procedure is called laminectomy or spinal decompression.
Discectomy
It is a procedure in which the surgeon will remove the herniated disc that presses the nerve. For that, the surgeon needs to do a laminectomy for better visibility of the disc.
Foraminotomy
In the case of a herniated disc, your surgeon may shave the bone hole where the nerve exits the spinal canal. It will prevent the pressing of the nerve due to bulging discs or joints.
Nucleoplasty/ plasma disk decompression
Your surgeon will anesthetize the back area and insert a needle guided by a live X-ray. The surgeon inserts a plasma laser through the needle to heat its tip. The heat vaporizes the abnormal disc content and releases pressure and pain.
Spinal fusion
If your doctor advises spinal fusion, the surgeon will insert a bone-like substance between the two vertebrae. He will fuse the two vertebrae to correct a deformity, improve stability or reduce pain.
Artificial disk replacement
In this procedure, as the name suggests, an artificial disc will replace your damaged natural disc.
Are there any risks associated with these procedures?
Surgeons perform these procedures close to your nervous system, so there are chances of infection and paralysis. Your doctor will discuss all the pros and cons of the surgeries before fixing the appointment for surgery.
Conclusion
Spinal surgery might sound scary. But doctors will perform these surgeries under general anesthesia, and to relieve the postoperative pain, he will prescribe analgesics. So it is like any other operation. Before undergoing any procedure, discuss with your doctor the risk factors and do a little bit of research about the surgery to get better clarity.
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